My mum used to cook this dish, whenever watermelon was in season. She called this ~ Masak Manis Tembikai.

Coming from a large family, with so many mouths to feed and with my dad's meagre income, we'll most likely ended up with this meal everytime my dad brought home watermelon. As a young child.... oohhh!!! I disliked it very... very... much... but dared not voice out...my mum was 'garang' in her younger days ... I'd quietly ate my plain rice with kicap manis...

But now...its a different story... We (Mr H and I) love this... and ironically... as the Malay proverb goes - 'Kuah tumpah ke Nasi'.. my kids would make a ruckus ...'Oh No! not again' and would prefer to eat their rice with kicap manis too!!! (lucky them! their mom is not that garang!!)

• watermelon skin - discard the outer skin
• dried shrimps
• 1 tbspn belacan (Maggi granules)
• 1 chilli
• 3 shallots

Pound dried shrimp and shallots. Bring water in a saucepan to a boil. Add the pounded shrimp and shallots. Continue boiling until aromatic for about 10-15 minutes. Add white peppercorn. Add watermelon skin and chilli. Bring to boil....Season with salt...